Missing fur possible skin infection?

[superka]

So poor cookie was wheeking weird today and when i inspected her i noticed a patch of missing fur on her left leg on the near her butt... I already booked a vet appointment but its only for the 21 at 10am. I'm gonna start weighing her daily to make sure she's not losing weight but she's been eating normally. I know i've caught her occasionally sitting in her litter box and sleep in her poops (theirs plenty of hides and other places to sleep. she chooses the poops... smh). I've had to give her a bath once already because she got really dirty. I made sure to dry her off thoroughly. it's quite possible this is related to her doing that. My main question to the forum is seeing that i gotta wait 10 days to get her seen by a vet is there anything i can do to ease her suffering or give some kind of treatment? also i'm living in canada so any suggestions transporting guinea pigs in blow -20C weather? I'm not sure a simple blanket will cut it. i almost wanna use those pocket warmers. they just fine iron powder in a pack that rust causing heat. maybe put a couple under a piece of cardboard at the bottom of the carrier that i put fleece over? if you got better idea's i'm happy to hear them. I'm also gonna cut a piece of styrofoam to block the door.

 

[WobblyPiggy]

Hi, we personally use a hot water bottle wrapped up in a t-shirt...we propped it up against a wall for her and she would lie with her booty and feet on it...and our other one has a mini heater next to his bed (outside the bars) that stays on a low constant...we also sometimes put their blankets on a radiator and then they're toasty for them for a little while...as for her fur coming out...it could be a variety of things that can cause it...only a vet will be able to tell you what it is...but keeping her clean and warm is the best thing for her...making sure they don't get sores on their exposed skin is always good...and keeping an eye on any other piggies they're near to see if they have any too...di you have critical care in? I know you say they have an appetite now but as a just incase...unfortunately 10 days does seem like a long time to wait...maybe you could keep ringing on a morning to see if there are any cancellations? I'm not sure how vets at Canada work...I know we (Britain) if we think were waiting a long time will inform that we will take a cancellation on short notice and they have rang us back up and we've been able to go straight in...Good luck with your piggy i hope it is nothing too serious...

 

[superka]

thanks for the reply. our house is very warm and i keep the cage off the floor with a pallet. i mean transporting outside. I have to take the bus and the walk from the bus stop to the vet isn't very long but 5-8 minutes in -20C is a long time. I'm gonna put a big blanket she can snuggle inside of and out another one around the carrier its self but i feel like that wont be enough?

 

[WobblyPiggy]

Even in the carrier we put a hot water bottle in with them...normally at the back under their blanket or bath mat...its rubber so the pee going through onto it makes little difference...just gets a wipe down with a damp cloth after its emptied...giving something that is enclosed at one end would be good then it atleast blocks one end off from wind...I understand your concern though piggies in the cold isn't great...but hopefully if its not for long they should be oki and if they have a nice toasty house to come back to they can warm up properly...but we've always used hot water bottles for them going out in the winter as we were concerned about them being too cold...

 

[superka]

the waterbottle is great idea. I'm probably gonna go with that one. I'm pretty sure i have an old water bottle kicking around here somewhere.

 

[WobblyPiggy]

Honestly they love it...weve started putting them under their bed cushions so they can't get them even when they're on the floor for their run they go under a mat so they have a warm spot...

 

[superka]

hmmm so i cleaned out her ball patch with some qtips and a clean rag. she pee'd in the little tub i had her in and poo'd all normal. dry her off put her in the small cage while i cleaned her main one. when i was done and put her in the main one the pee pad at the bottom of the small cage had blood in it. is it normal for an uti to only some times have blood in it? or did it just start?

 

[WobblyPiggy]

I'm not familiar with UTI in guinea pigs...but id assume it may not always be present in their urine or could become visible at any point...but if you suspect a UTI id keep trying at the vets to get an emergency appointment...as is also assume they can become uncomfortable/painful and from what I have read about can sometimes escalate into other issues as well...I hope you manage to get your piggy seen to soon and they get better soon...